Kevin Athearn

Extension: Regional Specialized Agent, Rural and Agribusiness Development

Kevin Athearn provides extension programs in agricultural economics. He assists farmers and food entrepreneurs with business start-up, marketing, business planning, and financial management. He collaborates on applied research projects to provide agricultural stakeholders with economic information to help guide decisions and sustain agriculture in North Florida.

Programs

Kevin is a co-leader of the Ag Entrepreneurship short course series for beginning farmers. He has contributed to Small Farms Academy, Farm2Food Accelerator, Greenhouse Training Online,  Bee College, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Outlook, Agribusiness Financial Management, and Homemade Entrepreneur programs. He is an American Farmland Trust certified land access trainer.

Kevin’s applied research focuses on North Florida crops, including greenhouse vegetables, field vegetables, orchard crops, and agronomic crops. Research topics include (1) developing farm enterprise budgets; (2) evaluating the economics of alternative cropping systems and management practices; and (3) assessing markets for current and potential North Florida crops.

Applied research in agricultural economics at the NFREC-SV is designed to support farmers, County Extension Agents, and other stakeholders in North Florida. The current focus is on developing , conducting economic analysis of BMPs and farm decisions, and supporting Extension programs.  Agricultural economics programs at the NFREC-SV are led by . Statewide programs in agricultural economics are housed in the Food and Resource Economics Department.